Corn-harvester.



No. 657,65I.

Patented Sept. II, I900, G. A. FARRALL &. C. MAUL.

CORN HARVESTER.

(Application filed June 11, 1900.)

2 Sheets8heet I.

(No Model.)

0.4 wmmcrmu. o. c.

Patented Sept. H, I900.

No. 657,65l.

a. A. FARBALL & c. MAULQ.

CORN HARVESTEB.

(Agplicnticm filed June 11, 1900.)

2 Sheafs-Shaet Z.

(No Model.)

fi zesses:

THE ucmus PEYERS co, mam-rand, WASHINGYOF, u c,

PATENT OFFIQE.

GEORGE ALBERT FARRALL AND Cl-IRlSTTAN MAUL, OF BATAVIA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS TO THE JOHNSTON HARVESTER COMPANY, OF

SAME PLACE.

CORN-HARVESTER.

bEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7.6 1, da d September 11. 1900- Application filed June 11. 1900. Serial No. 19,849. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE ALBERT FAR- RALL and CHRISTIAN MAUL, citizens of the United States, and residents of Batavia, in the county of Genesee and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Corn-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a corn-harvester of the general character which is shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States granted to The Johnston Harvester Company, No. 603,759, May 10,- 1898, and which consists, essentially, of a longitudinal platform which inclines upward and stubbleward, a binder-deck which extends stubbleward from the rear end of the platform and inclines upward and forward, and conveyerbelts which carry the stalks along the platform and deck to the binder mechanism and which are provided with folding feeding teeth or wings. In the corn-harvester referred to the binder mechanism is in a fixed position with reference to the inclined binder-deck, and the place where the band is tied around the bundle is adjusted by raising or lowering a bottom which supports the butts of the stalks. This adjustment of the bottom is limited and necessitates placing the binder mechanism in position to suit the average height of stalks.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a greater range of adjustment of the binder mechanism and permit of placing the band properly on bundles of stalks which vary considerably in height.

Other objects of this invention are to improve the construction of the guides or gates which control the action of the folding con-k veyer-teeth and the means for operating said guides or gates.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure l is a horizontal section of a corn-harvester embodying our improve Fig. 7 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the mechanism which controls the feeding teeth or wings of the conveyer, the section being taken in line 3 3, Fig. 7, and showing the position of the parts when the teeth are held in their operative position. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the position of these parts when the teeth are inoperative. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section in line 5 5, Fig. 8, showing the sectional standard which sup ports the knotter mechanism and the means for connecting the sections. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a movable guide for the teeth of the conveyer-belt. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section, on an enlarged scale, in line 7 7, Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a vertical longitudinal section in line 8 8, Fig. 7.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the main frame of the harvester, which is supported on the grainward side by a supporting-wheel a and on its stubbleward side by a driving or master wheel a.

B represents the usual cutter mechanism whereby the cornstalks are out off and which is arranged on the lower portion of the main frame.

0 represents the inclined conveyor-platform, which is arranged lengthwise on the main frame, with its lower portion adjacent to the stubbleward side of the cutter and which leans towardthe driving-wheel.

D represents the inclined binder deck, which extends rearwardly and stnbbleward from the rear end of the platform. The platform and deck form the stubbleward side of the throat or passage through which the stalks pass. passage is formed principally by longitudinal bars E, which are supported from the main frame by standards 6. As the stalks pass through the throat they are supported at their lower or butt ends by a bottom consisting of a numberof pivotally-connected sectionsff' j f The first section f is secured to the main frame in rear of the cutter. The second section f is pivoted to the front section and extends rearwardly from the latter along the lower end of the conveyer-platform. third sectionf is pivoted to the second section and is curved to fit the rounded corner at the The grainward side of this throat or The.

cured to an upright shaftj.

junction of the conveyer-platform and binder deck, and the fourth section f is pivoted to the curved section f and extends along the lower end of the'binder-deck. The vertical adjustment-of the bottom of the stalk-throat to suit dilferent lengths of stalks may be effected by any suitable ineansfor instance, as shown in Fig. 1, by a bracket g, arranged on the second sectionf and secured adjustably to the adjacent standard e by 'a bolt g, passing through a vertical slot in the bracket g, and by a bracket h. arranged on the rear- Inost section f and secured to the adjacent knotter standard H by a bolt h, passing through a'vertical slot in the bracket h, as shown in Fig. 8.

I I I represent the conveyeror feed belts,

whereby the stalks are carried through the throat to the binder mechanism. These belts are arranged lengthwise of the platform and binder-deck, and each belt passes aroiind a front guide-roller mounted on the platform, thence through an opening in the platform and rearwardly along the bearing side of the platform, thence rearwardly andstubbleward around an intermediate sprocket-wheel j, thence rearwardly through a slot 7' in the binder-deck, and thence forwardly around a delivery or rear sprocket-wheelj to the place of beginning. The intermediate sprocketwheels j of the several conveyer-belts are se- The delivery sprocket-wheelsj of the lower and intermediate conveyer-belts I I are ni'oimted on an upright shaft. j, and the delivery sprocketwheel f of the upper -conveyer-belt l is mounted on a separate shaftj The conveyer-belts may be driven from the driving wheel in the same manner as in the patent heretofore referred to. Each of the eon veyerbelts is provided with feeding teeth or wings K, which project laterally therefrom into the throat or stalk-passage when in their operative position. The inner end of each tooth is pivoted to the feed-belt and is provided with two trailing guide-shoes which project backwardly at right angles to the tooth and straddle the conveyer-belt. As the teeth move along the bearing side of the platform their shoes engage with the face of the platform and hold the teeth at right angles to the platform, in which position the teeth carry the stalks through the throat.

L represents the movable gates or guides, whereby the teeth on the delivery parts of the conveyer-belts are held either in their operative position for feedingth'e stalks to the binder mechanism or are permitted to fold. backwardly against the belt into an inoperative position, so as to check the feedingaction of the belts while the binder mechanism is tying a band around a bundle. Each of these guides is arranged in a slot 7' in the deck and extends from the rear part of the platform rear'wardly, thence stubbleward in a curve adjacent to the intermediate sprocketwheel, and thence obliquely to the delivery sprocket-wheel, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Each guide is constructed of a plate of sheet metal, which is punched out and curled or bent at its front end, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, to form two bars I Z, arranged lengthwise on opposite sides of a con-veyer-belt and on opposite sides of a pair of intermediate and delivery sprocket-wheels, a cross-piece Z connecting the bars near their rear ends, a crosspiece Z connecting the bars at their front ends, and a hook-shaped half-socket or seat 1 formed on the front cross-piece. This halfsocket embraces an upright rock-shaft Z and is secured thereto by a bolt Z -This construction produces at comparatively-small cost a very strong and light guide.

Z is an upright rock-shaft which is journaled on the deck between the intermediate and delivery sprocket=wheels and which is provided with a number of shifting arms or cams V, by whichthe position of the guides L is controlled. In the operative position of the gtiides L the rock-shaft Z is turned forwardly, so that its shifting arms Z bear squarely against the back of the guides near the free ends thereof, as represented in Fig. 1, whereby the conveyor-teeth passing along the deck are held in an operative position. Upon turning the rock-shaft Z bat-kwardly in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 3, the shifting arms are swung away from the guide-bars and permit the latter to recede from the feedbelts, thereby causing the feeding-teeth to be folded back into an inoperative position by the pressure of the stalks. Each of the shifting arms is bifurcated to straddle the adjacent delivery sprocket=wheel when the arm is moved into its inoperative position.

, M represents the binder-needle, which is arrai'iged in rear of the binder-deck and which passes hack and forth through a slot in the deck and cooperates with the knotter mechanism N, arranged on the opposite side of the stalk-throat, for tying the band around the bundle. The binder=needle is mounted on a rock-shaft M, which is arranged on the under side of the deck and journaled at its upper end in astationary bearing m on the main frame and at its lower end in a stationary bearing m in the needle-shaft standard m at represents a connecting rod or bar pivoted at one end to a crank m on the needle and provided at its inner end with a slot an. m is an actuating rock-arm which is secured to the rock-shaft Z and provided at its free end with a bifurcation which receives the slotted end of the connecting-bar m and which is provided with a pin m passing through the 'slot'thereof. In the retracted or inoperative position of the needle the conmeeting-bar pivoted thereto engages the outer end of its slot with the pin of the bifurcated rock-arm m and turns the latter, together with the rock-shaft l and the shifting arms connected therewith, so that the latter holds the guides L and the conveyer-teelh in an operative position, as shown in Figs. 1 and As the needle begins to move forwardly across the threat for tying a bundle the inner or free end of the connecting-bar m engages with the shoulder or abutment m on the bifurcated arm m and turns the same in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 3, until the inner end of the connecting-bar clears the shoulder m whereby the rock-sh aft Z is turned, so that its shifting arms Z are retracted and permit the guides L and conveyer-teeth to move into an inoperative position, as shown in Figs. 2 and at. After the connecting-bar m has cleared the shoulder of the bifurcated rockarm the continued forward movement of the needle causes the connecting-bar to slide with its slot on the pin m until it reaches the end of its forward movement, as represented in Figs. 2 and 4, during which movement the rock-shaft Z and connecting parts are not moved. During the first part of the subsequent backward movement of the needle the connecting-bar slides idly on the pin m until the outer end of the slot in said bar engages with this pin, after which the connecting-bar during the last part of its backward movement with the needle shifts the bifurcated rock-arm m, together with the shaft Z and shifting arms 7. so as to move the guides L and the conveyer-teeth into an inoperative position. During the last part of the outward movementof the connecting-bar its inner end is swung opposite the shoulder m of the rock-arm m preparatory to shifting the same during the next inward movement of the connecting-bar.

The above-described mechanism for shifting the guides is substantially the same as that shown in an application for Letters Patent filed by us August 22, 1899, Serial No. 728,477.

It has been found in practice that stalks sometimes are caught between the delivery sprocket-wheelsj and rear side of the shifting arms while the latter are in their retracted position. When stalks are so caught, the deliverysprocket-wheels tend to move the shifting arms outwardly, thereby causing the actuating rock-arm m to grip or clutch the connecting-barm Iftheactuating-armgrips the connecting-bar sufficiently firm to prevent this bar from sliding outwardly on the actuating-arm during the backward movement of the needle, one of these parts is broken. In order to prevent the actuatingariu m from unduly gripping the connectingbar, the actuating-arm is provided with a bearing-lip m", which extends laterally from the inner side of its bearing-shoulder m as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. When the actuating rock-arm m has been moved inwardly by the connecting-bar the bearing-lip m engages with the adjacent side of the connecting-bar a sufficient distance from the bearing-shoulder m to prevent the actuating-arm from gripping or clutching the connecting bar to such an extent as to lock these parts together, thereby leaving the connecting'bar free to be retracted with the needle and avoiding injury-to the machine when stalks are caught between the delivery sprocketwheels and the shifting arms.

The knotter mechanism and the needle are so constructed and arranged that they can be adjusted so high or so low that stalks of considerable height or short stalks can be properly tied. For this purpose the needle and the knotter mechanism are made vertically adjustable on their respective shafts and the breastplate is made similarly adj ustable on its support. It is desirable to sup port this knotter-shaft in a substantial manner near the kuotter mechanism when the latter is placed in its highest position, and we provide means for that purpose. m m represent the upper and lower bearings of the needle-shaft, which are so located that the hub of the needle bears against the upper hearing when the needle isin its elevated position, as represented in full lines in Figs. 7 and 8, while the needle-hub bears against the lower bearing when the needle is in its lowered position, as represented in dotted lines in the same figures. The needle is secured on the shaft after adjustment bya setscrew m or by othersuita-hle means. When the needle is adjusted to its raised position, it stands near the under side of the upper conveyer-belt 1 and when the needle is in its lowered position it stands near the upper side of the intermediate conveyorbelt I. The needle therefore in either position enters between the stalks and divides the gavel to be bound from the remaining stalks in rear of the place where the stalks are fully compressed, thereby avoiding undue pressure against the outer side of the needle. When the needle is adjusted up or (lawn on the needle-shaft, the actuating rock-arm m is ad justed up or down on its shaftto correspond.

The principal parts of the kuotter mechanism shown in the drawings consist of the upright knotter-shaft 0, which is journaled in the knotter-standard H, the knotter-frame 0, mounted loosely on the knotter-shaft, the knotter-cams 0 0 arranged on the knottershaft above and below the lmotter-frame, and the breastplate 0 secured to the knotterframe and supported at its front end from the knotter-staudard by a brace 0 \Vhen the needle is adjusted u p or down on its shaft, the knotter mechanism is adjusted up or down on its shaft to correspond to the position of the needle. After adjustment the knotter mechanism is held in place by setscrews 0 arranged in the hubs of the knotter-cams and engaging with the k nottcrshaft, or by other suitable means. When the knotter mechanism is raised or lowered, the front end of the breastplate is also adjusted on the brace o by shifting the fastening-bolt of the breastplate from one opening in the brace to another.

In order to permit of raising and lowering the knotter mechanism on its shaft, the knotter-standard H is made of two sections h h The lower section 72,2 is rigidly secured to'the main frame and forms a stationary bearing for the knotter-shaft, thereby firmly supporting the knotter-shaft near the knotter mechanism when the latter is placed in its highest position. The upper section is removable and when in use ,is mounted on the upper part of the knotter-shaft between the lower sectionof the standard and the lower 'knottercam. The upper standard-section is detachably secured to the lower standard-section by boltsp, passing through ears 1 9 on the lower end of the upper section and the upper end of the lower section, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8. The upper standard is held securely in its central position on the lower standard-section so as to avoid cramping of the knotter-shaft by a boss 19 arranged on the upper end of the lower section and entering a socket in the lower end of the upper section, as shown in Fig. 8.

When harvesting comparatively long stalks, the needle and the knotter mechanism are adjusted to their elevated position, as represented in full lines, Figs. 7 and 8, and the bottom of the stalk-passage is raised or lowered, as may be required, to place theband around the bundle at the proper height. WVhen harvesting comparatively-short stalks, the upper standard-section p is removed and the needle and knotter mechanism are adjusted to their lower position, as represented in dotted lines, Figs. 7 and 8, and the bottom of the stalk-passage is raised or lowered to locate the band around the bundle at the proper place. 'It will thus be seen that by this means a coarse or quick band adjustment is obtained by shifting the needle and knotter mechanism either to their upper or lower position, and a fine adjustment is obtained by raising or lowering the bottom of the stalk-passage, thereby providing a range of adjustment which is great enough to meet the usual extremes in the height of stalks and at the same time retaining the advantage of having the needle work through the stalks in close proximity to one of the conveyer-belts.

We claim as our invention- 1. The combination with the platform and the binder-deck, the conveyer-belt provided with folding teeth and a rock-shaft, of a toothguide which consists of a plate forming two bars arranged lengthwise on .opposite sides of the conveyer-belt, a cross-piece connecting the bars near their rear ends, a cross-piece connecting the bars at their front ends, and a shaft-socket at the front end, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the platform and the binder-deck, the oscillating needle, a conveyer belt provided with folding teeth, a tooth-guide which is movable toward and from the deck, and a rock-shaft having a shifting arm for said guide, of a connecting-bar which is connected at one end with the needle and an actuating-arm which is secured to said rock-shaft and has a sliding connection with said bar and is provided with a bearingshoulder adapted to engage with the end of said bar and with a bearing-face extending laterally from said shoulder and adapted to bear against the side of said bar, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the knotter-shaft and the knotter mechanism which is capable of vertical adjustment on the same, of a main frame provided with a standard in which the knot-tershaft is journaled and which is composed of a lower section, secured to the main frame, and an upper section which is detachably secured to the lower section, said upper section forming a rigid extension of the lower section when in place and supporting the knotter-shaft near the knotter mechanism when the latter is in its highest position, while said upper section can be removed when the knotter mechanism is to be placed in a lower position, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with the knotter-shaft and the knotter mechanism which is capable of vertical adjustment on the same, of a main frame provided with a standard in which the knotter-shaft is journaled and which is composed of a lower section, secured to the main frame, and an upper section which is detachably secured to the lower section, a brace attached at its lower end to the main frame, an arm connecting the upper end of the lower standard-section with said brace,and a breastplate capable of vertical adj ustment on the upper portion of said brace, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the binder-deck, and the stalk-conveyer, of an upright needleshaft arranged on the under side of the deck and journaled in a stationary bearing, a binder-needle mounted on said shaft and adjustable lengthwise thereon, an upright kn otter-shaft facing the binder-deck, a knotter mechanism mounted on the knotter-shaft and adjustable lengthwise thereon, a standard in which the knotter-shaft is journaled and which consists of a stationary lower section and a removable upper section, a retainingboss arranged on the upper end of the lower standard-section and engaging with a recess in the lower end of the upper standard-section, and clamping-bolts passing through ears on the opposing ends of said standard-sections, substantially-as set forth.

Witness our hands this 7th day of June, 1900.

GEORGE ALBERT FARRALL. CHRISTIAN MAUL.

Witnesses:

G. W. BAKER, WARREN FARGO. 

